Whiffletree-hook.



No. 822,557. PATENTED JUNE'E), 1906.

H. G. SCOTT. WHIFPLETREE HOOK.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT.12, 1905.

HAMILTON O. SCOTT, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

WHlFFLETREE-HOOK- bio. 822,557.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 5, 1906.

Application filed September 12, 1905. Serial No. 278.072.

T0 (LZZ whmn it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HAMILTON 0. Soon, a citizen of the United States, residing in the l city and county of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful WhifHetree-Hook, of which the following is a specification.

My invention consists of a device for at taching a trace to a whiffletree, the same embodying a hook which is mounted on such tree and adapted to be opened to admit of the application and removal of the ring or link of a trace, and when such ring or link is applied said hook automatically closes and is adapted to remain closed, the construction of parts being hereinafter described and the novel features pointed out in the claims.

Figure 1 represents a perspective view of a whiflietree-hook embodying my invention. Fig. 2 represents a central longitudinal section thereof.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the figures.

Referring to the drawings, A designates a socket or sleeve adapted to receive and be secured to the end of a whifl'letree in any suitable manner. In the outer portion of said socket is a chamber B, in which is contained the spring C, which is bent or of U shape and has one limb resting in the base of said chamber.

D designates a hook which is pivotally mounted on the pintle or bolt E. The latter having its ends fitted in the ears F are continuous of and project beyond the side walls of said chamber B, by which provision said chamber is deepened, and so permits of the introduction and employment of a powerful spring, such as C, whereby said hook will be forcibly controlled when in closed position, and so prevented from improper opening. The free end of said hook has a nose G thereon, the same laterally projecting from said end and being adapted to be freely seated on the exterior of the socket A, and thus close said end. The pivotal portion of the hook is of the form of an eye or perforated head H, which receives the bolt E, saidhead entering the outer portion of the chamber B, and is rotatable therein during the motions of the hook, has its inner side J form a cam which contacts with the upper limb of the spring C, whereby the latter exerts upward pressure on the head H, the tendency of Which is to force j j the nose G against the socket A and hold the hook in closed position.

It will be seen that wh en the hook is raised, the power of the spring then being overcome, the nose G leaves its seat, whereby a passage is provided for the entrance of the ring or link of a trace. The hook is then let go, when the spring exerts its pressure and automatically closes the hook and holds it in closed position, whereby disconnection of the trace is prevented, it being noticed that no fastening devices are employed to lock or control the hook as closed. The chamber B has its wall closed on its sides and front, by which provision said chamber completely incloses the spring C and the main portion of the head H. This also permits the use of a spring, such as C, which is freely placed on the base of said chamber B, and so requires no fastening devices to hold it in place, excepting the walls of the chamber and the side J of the head of the hook, it being also readily removable. Again, the spring is composed of a plate bent in U shape, and so maybe powerful in action to close the hook. It will also be seen that the extreme outer end of the casting of which the socket A and walls of the chamber B are composed is closed, and so entirely conceals the spring and likewise the portion of the head H back of said end, so that said portion in its rotary motions is not liable to have the hands contact therewith. The socket which comprises the member for attaching the device to the wrifiletree is utilized as an abutment for the nose end of the hook for closing the latter. When the trace is to be disconnected, the hook is again opened, the effect of which is evident.

The nose G embraces the exterior of the socket A, and so is not liable to be wrenched from said socket and improperly open when the hook is subjected to torsional or rotary strain.

Having thus described my invention,what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Let ters Patent, is

1 In a whiflletree-hook, an attaching member, side and end walls forward of the same forming a chamber, ears on said side walls projecting beyond the same, a head mounted on said ears and embraced on the side by said ears and on the outer end by the exterior wall of said chamber and a spring resting on the base of said chamber, said head having a cam member and interloc ing it closed and noses extending in opposite directions laterally from the free end of said 10 hook, the same bein adapted to rest on said iingly embrace the same. HAMILTON O. SCOTT. Witnesses:

E. ULRIoK, THOS. N. Porrs. 

